"...I sallied forth among the shipping. After much prolonged sauntering and many random inquiries, I learnt that there were three ships up for three-years' voyages - The DevilDam, the Tit-bit, and the Pequod. DevilDam, I do not know the origin of; Tit-bit is obvious; Pequod, you will no doubt remember, was the name of a celebrated tribe of Massachusetts Indians, now extinct as the ancient Medes. I peered and pryed about the DevilDam; from her, hopped over to the Tit-bit; and, finally, going on board the Pequod, looked around her for a moment, and then decided that this was the very ship for us...."
Moby Dick [1851], Herman Melville
Penguin Classics ed. p [164]
